Hull Pals Memorial Post. CPL WILLIAM DIXON 10/1356. Born 1893, the only child of Alfred and Davina Dixon. William lost his father not long after he was born and his mother died in 1908 leaving him in the care of his Aunt, Mrs Kate McWilliam and Uncle, at 56 Greek Street, Hull and 11, Field Street, Holderness Road, Hull (War pension address). A Painter by trade, William put down his brush for good when he enlisted for the Pals on 25th May 1915 at City Hall. He trained in Yorkshire throughout the year and shipped to Egypt to help defend Suez from the Turks that December. The Pals landed in France in March 1916, and William went through the worst the Somme and Oppy Wood could throw at him. A member of ‘A’ Company, he was killed in action on 13th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive as the Pals held a line between Hazebrouck and Bailleul. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial; he was 25 years old. An entire family line wiped out.
His war pension was left to his Aunt, Kate McWilliam, at 11 Field Street, Hull. Kate also lost her son in the war – Private Harold McWilliam, 34957, West Riding Regiment, killed on 12/10/1918.
Note: Three ‘William Dixon’s’ died fighting for the Pals.
